Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday, December 8, that condoms would be free in pharmacies for young people aged 18 to 25 from 1er January 2023. “In pharmacies the condom will be free for 18-25 year olds. It will start from 1er January. It’s a small prevention revolution.”said the president during a session of the National Council for Refoundation devoted to the health of young people in Fontaine-le-Comte, near Poitiers (Vienne).
Condoms have already been reimbursed by Social Security on prescription from a doctor or midwife since December 10, 2018, an additional tool to fight against AIDS and sexually transmitted infections. The measure concerns the delivery of boxes of 6, 12 or 24 condoms in pharmacies, the Ministry of Health had then detailed.
Two brands of male condoms, Eden and Get out covered!, are currently covered up to 60% by Medicare, the remaining 40% being covered by complementary health insurance for those who have it.
More broadly, Emmanuel Macron considered that “about sexual health” young people, “we have a real subject”. He notably mentioned the vaccination of adolescents – girls and boys – against papillomavirus infections, linked to the appearance of several cancers.
“We are no good” on sex education
“It’s a huge job of information. We have to get him back to school, we have to multiply and we’re going to make that investment.”he pleaded. “Me, I do not exclude that we go towards compulsory vaccination when all this is installed and we have the right recommendations” scientists, insisted the Head of State.
As for sex education, “We are not good at this. The reality is very, very far from the theory. We have to train our teachers much better on this subject, we have to raise awareness.noted Mr. Macron.
The Social Security budget bill adopted last week also provides for free emergency contraception for all women, without medical prescription. The text also made it possible to screen for certain sexually transmitted infections without a prescription for everyone, and free of charge for those under 26.
In September 2021, the government had already announced free contraception for women up to the age of 25, and no longer just for minors. The free was ” necessary ” but must be accompanied by a policy of awareness of sexual health, which should also be aimed at men, had then estimated the National Council of the Order of Midwives.